Eventide Wings

by Tranquil Serenity

Chapter 3: The Wonders of Flight

Both ponies safely on land, Eventide commenced to pull the boat up onto the shore. Rarity had made an offer to assist him, but he had told her there was 'no need'. Choosing to permit the captain his chivalry despite her new-found powers, the alicorn stood a short distance away and watched. She saw that a forest sat just at the inner edge of the beach - lining the sandy expanse into the distance. She looked over her shoulder and observed the tide as it rose and fell. The silhouette of the island they'd left was still visible from this spot, as the lights of the heavens now ruled the night once more. Satisfied that the tide would not steal away his vessel, Eventide Swell left the boat and returned to Rarity's side.

"Princess," he said, holding out a map he'd kept aboard his craft. "If you would be so kind as to cast your light, I will use it to ascertain which way to..." He blinked. "Pardon me, princess, but did you say you wanted to go to Canterlot or Ponyville?"

That gave Rarity pause. "Well... I wish to reunite with my friends. At first I thought Ponyville because it's where they live, but then I thought Canterlot because I couldn't see the moon or the stars, knowing they'd likely go to the princesses to investigate... but then, I did fix that so perhaps they haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary at all. Which one is closer?"

"Well..." Eventide glanced down meaningfully at the darkened parchment.

"Oh! Of course!" Rarity chuckled nervously and lit her horn, the light more than enough for him to read by.

A short while passed before the captain spoke. "It appears that Ponyville is the nearest. Just several hours journey in..." He pointed a hoof to a path between the trees. "That direction," he finished.

"Hmm. Come to think of it, Ponyville is perhaps the most advantageous choice," Rarity thought aloud. "The map in Twilight's castle will likely tell us where the others have gone if they aren't there."

"That's settled then," Eventide stated, folding up the map. "Does the princess wish to commence the journey now, or should I set up camp on the shore for the night?"

"Goodness, no!" Rarity said waving a hoof. "I can walk a few hours if it means I get to sleep in a nice warm bed instead of on an old beach! In fact..." She glanced down at her wings and smiled. "Perhaps I could even fly there!"

The captain's eyes widened. "Are you sure you could manage that? You've never flown before, and you would have to make the journey from here on your own if you succeeded."

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Please, darling! I'm an alicorn now! I moved the stars and the moon without even trying! Even Twilight can't do that! I shall easily carry you in my magic as I fly!"

"Princess, I don't think—"

"Pish posh! Stand aside, good captain!" She waved him away.

Spreading her wings out while crouching down into position, her eyes narrowed in determination. It was all just as she'd so often seen Rainbow Dash do it. With a glint in her eye, she took off running and flapped her wings, rising from the ground below.

"There, you see, captain, I'm flYYYIIINNNNNGG!"

Rarity cried out as she careened off-course, just narrowly missing a tree. Abruptly the majestic alicorn somersaulted through the air and landed face first in the sand. Eventide cantered quickly over to her side, assisting her in extricating her head from the sand with a popping sound not unlike a cork when pulled from the tip of a new champagne bottle.

"Oh my! Princess, are you alright?!"

Rarity spat out a mouthful of sand and coughed. "Of course, captain," she said, forcing herself to grin. "Just a... minor setback."

He helped her to her hooves. "Princess, I really don't think you should try that again without proper instruction."

"That's a good idea," Rarity agreed readily. "Would you mind giving me some?"

"My apologies, princess. I'd be happy to assist in that if I could, but I'm afraid I'm no pegasus. In respect to matters of flight, I'm sorry to say I am quite ignorant."

"Well, so much for that idea," Rarity remarked flatly. "We'd best start moving if we want to reach Ponyville before sunrise, assuming there is a sunrise."

Author's Note:

This old story. Yeah, I really should've updated it to be cancelled a long time ago. I had writer's block and held out vague hope I might get inspired to finish it one day. I knew how I wanted to start this story and how I wanted it to end, but the middle part stumped me. Since it's unlikely I'm ever going to finish it: I might as well just tell you the ending.

The whole thing is a dream. Rarity wakes up after having this adventure just a plain old unicorn, feeling a deep sense of loss since she had bonded with the stallion she met, only to now believe he was imaginary. But in the morning she receives an invitation from Cadance to The Crystal Empire. Once Rarity is at the palace she is met by Cadance and Luna - it turns out that the stallion Rarity met is real.

Cadance, in an effort towards matchmaking pestered Luna into fusing the dreamworlds of Rarity and Eventide so she could see if the two had chemistry when they interacted - if things went poorly then the two would wake from the dream never knowing the other pony was real. Rarity is lead out onto the balcony where Eventide waits and the two happily reunite. The End.

Comments

[Acologic]

With a glint her eye, she took off running and flapped her wings, rising from the ground below.

With a glint in her eye(?).

Haha, there's this nice little tone you've got going here, my man. I'm liking it, that's for sure! Short and sweet, these chapters, and entertaining as well. Nice try, Rarity, but we knew you'd struggle just as all first-time fliers do.

[Tranquil Serenity]

9319746
Yep. Flying right takes practice. Thanks for sharing your thoughts again.

[A Man Undercover]

I just now finished reading the present chapters for this story, and I’m deeply intrigued.

When you have the time, please create more chapters.

[Tranquil Serenity]

11829623
This old story. Yeah, I really should've updated it to be cancelled a long time ago. I had writer's block and held out vague hope I might get inspired to finish it one day. I knew how I wanted to start this story and how I wanted it to end, but the middle part stumped me. Since it's unlikely I'm ever going to finish it: I might as well just tell you the ending.

The whole thing is a dream. Rarity wakes up after having this adventure just a plain old unicorn, feeling a deep sense of loss since she had bonded with the stallion she met, only to now believe he was imaginary. But in the morning she receives an invitation from Cadance to The Crystal Empire. Once Rarity is at the palace she is met by Cadance and Luna - it turns out that the stallion Rarity met is real.

Cadance, in an effort towards matchmaking pestered Luna into fusing the dreamworlds of Rarity and Eventide so she could see if the two had chemistry when they interacted - if things went poorly then the two would wake from the dream never knowing the other pony was real. Rarity is lead out onto the balcony where Eventide waits and the two happily reunite. The End.

[A Man Undercover]

11834015
Oh.

😔I see.

[Tranquil Serenity]

11834030
Sorry.

[A Man Undercover]

11834033
That’s okay.

Have you considered making a blog post detailing the sort of thing you told me here?

[Tranquil Serenity]

11834037
Nah. Assuming anybody even remembers this story 6 years later this is probably where they'd look anyways.

[A Man Undercover]

11834041
Okay.